2021 Memorial Tournament: Why Saturday Morning is Key for Jon Rahm

Jon Rahm entered the 2021 Memorial Tournament as the defending champion. He also came in as one of the favorites to win at Muirfield Village.

Now, with two days of action in the books, Rahm is in very solid position to win again. His fate may very well be decided by what happens on Saturday morning.

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Rahm was solid, but not spectacular, in the event’s first round. He actually started his round with a bogey but he quickly bounced back. Overall, he had five birdies and two bogeys, leaving him with a 3-under par 69. That was good enough for a share of 11th place through 18 holes.

In the second round, Rahm got off to a bit of a slow start. Not that it was bad, but he opened his round with three straight pars. Then, he got red hot.

On the par-3 fourth hole, Rahm hit the green, then rolled in a 22-foot putt for his first birdie of the day. Then, on the par-5 fifth hole, Rahm got up-and-down from a greenside bunker for birdie. He was quickly 2-under par on his round. But he wasn’t done yet.

At the par-4 sixth hole, Rahm drove it in the fairway, then hit his approach shot to about 15 feet. He made that putt as well, making it three birdies in a row.

Then, on the par-5 seventh hole, Rahm hit the green in two. His eagle putt, from about 50 feet, just missed and he tapped in for a fourth consecutive birdie. He was 4-under through seven holes.

Rahm would finish his first nine with a 4-under par 32.

On the back nine, Rahm suffered his first bogey of the day at the 10th hole. However, he would birdie the 11th and 13th holes to get to 5-under on his round, which was halted by darkness.

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Now, Rahm faces a crucial five-hole stretch on Saturday morning. Rahm is, and always has been, a player fueled by momentum. He’s currently tied for the lead but those five holes on Saturday morning could push him into the lead alone, or he could fall off the pace. That’s why these five holes in the morning will be the difference in Rahm’s weekend in Ohio.

If things go well Saturday morning, Rahm may very well win again. If not, he could just be another player making the weekend.

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